Glossary
A
Enzymes which are present inside liver cells. Damage to the liver can cause ALT and AST to leak into the blood. As a result, high levels of these enzymes in the blood can be an important indicator of liver damage
Allergy
Reactions to IgE mediated allergy occur almost immediately, usually within 2
hours of exposure to the offending substance. For example inhalent allergy symtoms
will affect the respiratory system, contact with animal danders and house dust
mite may cause skin reactions.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a term used to describe a number of painful conditions of the joints
and bones. Two of the main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis.
Asthma affects the airways of the lungs (the bronchi) which causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen. The bronchi are small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the bronchi are more sensitive than normal and certain substances, or triggers, can irritate them. Common triggers include house dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, cold air, and chest infections.
Anaphylaxis
(also known as anaphylactic shock) is a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis is your body's immune system reacting badly to the presence of a foreign
object (e.g. food or a substance) it wrongly perceives as a threat. Your whole
body is affected, usually within minutes of contact with an allergen.
B
D
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, neither the patients nor the researchers know who is getting a placebo and who is getting the treatment. Because patients don't know what they're getting, their belief about what will happen doesn't taint the results. Because the researchers don't know either, they can't hint to patients about what they're getting, and they also won't taint results through their own biased expectations about what the results will be.
Insulin helps glucose enter the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. Glucose comes from digesting carbohydrate from various kinds of food and drink, including starchy foods such as breads, rice and potatoes, fruit, some dairy products, sugar and other sweet foods. Glucose is also produced by the liver. There are 2 main types of diabetes type 1 and type 2. For further information on our GLCheck test click here
E
Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition, which can result in dry, red and flaky skin. The
skin may feel hot and very itchy and scratching can lead to the skin becoming
damaged and infected. Eczema is not contagious. Eczema is also known as dermatitis,
a term used to describe inflammation of the skin.
ELISA
Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA, is a biochemical technique used
to detect the presence of an antibody or an antigen in a bilological sample.
F
Fatty liver is a condition which is caused by the build up of excess fat in the liver cells. It is normal for your liver to contain some fat. But if fat accounts for more than 5-10% of your liver’s weight, then you have fatty liver and you may develop more serious complications.
Fatigue as a concept is extremely hard to define, since everybody has their own idea of what being tired means. Everybody is tired once in a while, the most common reason is of course lack of sleep. The number of people complaining of tiredness increases every year; 1 in 10 people are suffering from persistent tiredness, with women more likely to be affected than men. Chronic fatigue is a medical condition characterised by drowsiness, slowness, general indifference, or tiredness so much so that you can't perform all of the normal, daily activities you used to. Some people battle chronic fatigue for many years. The cause of chronic fatigue is not known, although it is clear that the immune system is involved. It is also clear that the most common symptom of food intolerance is fatigue although people often use other health conditions as an excuse for their symptoms. For those with chronic fatigue, acknowledging that certain food combinations can contribute to symptoms, and then identifying and eliminating the specific foods from their diet, is an important step forward in improving energy levels. For further information on food intolerance testing, please click here.
FoodScan
YorkTest’s food intolerance test. FoodScan is the only food intolerance test endorsed by Allergy UK. It is a two stage process; First Step is the preliminary test which informs the tester if there is a strong possibility of Food Intolerance reactions indicated by a positive result. YorkTest advises that if your First Step Test is positive then you need to progress to FoodScan 113 which will give you a comprehensive insight into which foods could be associated with your food intolerance symptoms.
The Yorktest Second Step food intolerance test. Ideal for those wanting to specifically identify the food / foods that are triggering food intolerance symptoms.
G
Gut Ecology
Gut Ecology describes the profile of micro - organismsin your gut this includes:
Physiological gut flora, facultative pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic bacteria.
Gut Flora These bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are normally
present in the gut. However, their levels are important. If levels of these naturally
occurring gut bacteria are out of balance, recommendations will be provided to
try and help correct them.
H
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood. Epidemiological studies have shown
that too much homocysteine in the blood (plasma) is related to a higher risk
of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
I
IgE is a type of antibody that is found in blood or other bodily fluids.They are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.
The Intestinal ecogram is a detailed chart that summarises your Gut Health test results.
An airbourne substance inducing an allergic state or reaction.
Dry, itchy inflamed skin can make life a misery. It is estimated that at any one time around 25% of the population has a skin problem that could benefit from medical care; skin conditions account for between 15 and 20% of a GP’s workload. One cause of itchy skin is eczema, a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. ‘Atopy’ is the term used for the tendency to develop eczema, asthma and/or hay fever. Atopic people have an overactive immune system and their skin easily becomes inflamed. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured. However, for most patients the condition can be managed well with treatment and avoidance of triggers. Diet plays an important role in the management of skin symptom flare-ups. Not all food triggers will be the same for everyone, and so understanding that food intolerance can contribute to skin problems and then identifying and eliminating the trigger foods is key to reducing symptoms. For further information on food intolerance testing, please click here.
J
Joint Pain
M
A migraine is a throbbing intense headache that usually occurs on one side of the head, although both sides may be affected in separate attacks. Migraines are painful and sometimes disabling and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell. During a migraine attack there are changes in chemicals and blood vessels in the brain. These changes to the blood vessels are probably what cause the pain, but migraine is still a condition that is poorly understood. Migraine headaches tend to recur; a migraine headache typically lasts 4 to 24 hours but in some cases can last up to 3 days. In many people, migraines are triggered by reactions to foods. Understanding that food intolerance can contribute to migraines and then identifying and eliminating the trigger foods is important. Management of the diet can reduce the severity and / or frequency of headaches or even stop them. For further information on food intolerance testing, please click here.
N
There are a number of diseases, some of them very serious, which only cause mild or vague symptoms. People may not even really feel sick, but just have a feeling that things are not quite right. In some conditions, the symptoms get worse over time, but for some conditions, the symptoms may stay vague or non-specific for a long period. Any symptom needs checking with your doctor, even if it seems mild or minor.
O
Obesity
Obesity is when a person is carrying too much body fat for their height and sex.
A person is considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) - weight in
kilograms divided by their height in metres squared - of 30 or greater. Obesity
can happen when you eat more calories than you burn off over a period of time.
P
These bacteria, including Salmonella, are known to be harmful. If these harmful bacteria are found in your sample (red zone on your Intestinal Ecogram) it is important that you see your GP and take your results with you.
R
Allergic rhinitis is a condition where an allergen (something that causes an allergic reaction) makes the inside of your nose swell, or become inflamed. This can cause cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, itchiness, and a blocked, or runny, nose. Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common conditions in the UK. Studies estimate that between 20-30% of people experience this condition at some point in their life.
S
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection of the small, air-filled cavities inside the cheekbones
and forehead. Acute sinusitis is fairly ommon, with approximately 1-5% of adults
being diagnosed with the condition every year.
Y
Yeasts and moulds
Yeasts (including Candida) and moulds Candida is a yeast that is a natural resident
of the gut. Usually Candida refers to Candida albicans, however there are other
species of Candida that are also tested for. The level of Candida in your gut
is important. Once the Candida reaches a certain level (see Intestinal Ecogram
for details) they cling to the wall of the intestines making them very persistent.
If the levels of yeasts or moulds in your sample are too high recommendations
will be provided that may help correct them.
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